Osama Hussein and Ayman Al-Husseini address the players before training.

KUWAIT CITY, March 22: Kuwait will be without striker Yousef Nasser and goalkeeper Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli for their crucial match against Oman on Tuesday in the eighth round of Group B in the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The team resumed training at Kuwait Club Stadium on Sunday, just a day after returning from Basra, where they secured a 2-2 draw against Iraq in the seventh round. Most players took part in the session, including Hassan Hamdan, who had missed the previous match due to injury.

The Blues now face a must-win situation against Oman—or at least a draw—to keep their hopes alive for a fourth-place finish and progression to the next round. Kuwait currently sits in fifth place with five points, ahead of Palestine (3 points), while Oman holds fourth place with seven points. Iraq and Jordan are tied in second place with 12 points, while South Korea leads the group with 15 points.

Argentinian coach Juan Pizzi praised his players’ performance against Iraq, despite the disappointment of conceding a late equalizer.

"It was a tough and competitive match, as expected, but I’m very proud of my players. They put in a great effort regardless of the result, and I thoroughly enjoyed their performance," Pizzi said.

He acknowledged the frustration of conceding in the final seconds but emphasized the need to stay positive.

"The late equalizer was painful, but we remain optimistic and focused. Now, our priority is to prepare well for the next match."

Pizzi also highlighted the importance of recovery, noting that some players are carrying injuries while others are at risk of suspension. However, he expressed confidence that the team had sufficient time to recover before facing Oman.

"We've been working on improving the team's overall performance for the past seven months, and we've seen significant progress. Additionally, we’re integrating young players, as we saw today with Jassim Matar," he added.

Before training, Federation Board members Osama Hussein and Ayman Al-Husseini met with the squad, commending their efforts against Iraq and encouraging them to give their all against Oman.

Meanwhile, the Omani national team began training at Nasser Al-Osaimi Stadium immediately after arriving from Beijing on a private flight. Oman enters the match on the back of a 1-1 draw with Group B leaders South Korea in the seventh round.

By Khaled Al-Enezi

Al-Seyessah/Arab Times Staff